Salawat

Salat al-Ummiyyah (Salawat upon the Unlettered Prophet)

August 21, 2026

Salât-ı Ümmiye Okunuşu, Anlamı ve Fazileti

Explanation

This is a short salawat that is easy to memorize. It highlights that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was unlettered (ummi).

Dua Text

اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ النَّبِيِّ الْأُمِّيِّ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلِّمْ

Transliteration

Allahumma salli ‘ala sayyidina Muhammadinin-nabiyyil-ummiyyi wa ‘ala alihi wa sahbihi wa sallim.

Meaning

O Allah! Send mercy and peace upon our master Muhammad, the unlettered Prophet, and upon his family and companions.

What Is Asked in This Dua

Salat al-Ummiyyah is one of the shortest and most widespread salawat. The servant asks Allah to send mercy and peace upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his family and companions. At the heart of salawat lies not the servant’s own request, but love for the Prophet and the wish to pray for him.

What sets this salawat apart is that it remembers the Prophet as “the unlettered Prophet”. His being unlettered recalls that he brought the Quran even though he never learned to read or write, and that this is a miracle. By mentioning this attribute, the servant affirms that the revelation the Prophet brought is not a human product. The blessing also includes his family and companions; in this way the Prophet’s family and friends are taken into the prayer as well. The source states that the reward of this salawat is regarded as great and its virtue as immense.

When and How to Recite

The source recommends keeping it up every morning and evening, and states that it is also recited at gatherings where the Mawlid is read. So it is fitting to add it to your daily morning and evening dhikr and to recite it at communal gatherings such as the Mawlid. No specific number is mentioned; since it is short, it can be repeated as many times as you wish.

Being in a state of wudu is preferable but not a condition for salawat. Since it is short and easy to memorize, it can also be recited often throughout the day. What matters is reciting it knowing that you are sending blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his family and companions. Whoever finds the Arabic difficult can send salawat using its meaning in their own language.

Virtue

Its reward is regarded as great and its virtue as immense. It is recommended to keep reciting it every morning and evening; it is also recited at gatherings where the Mawlid is read.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Salat al-Ummiyyah recited?

The source recommends keeping it up every morning and evening. It is also recited at Mawlid gatherings, and since it is short it can be recited throughout the day.

How many times is Salat al-Ummiyyah recited?

The source does not mention a specific number. It can be repeated regularly every morning and evening, as many times as you wish.

What does Salat al-Ummiyyah mean?

It means asking Allah for mercy and peace upon our master Muhammad ﷺ, the unlettered Prophet, and upon his family and companions.

Source

Majmu'at al-Ahzab, vol. 2, p. 84.

The text on this page was prepared by Dua Kitaplığı based on the work cited above. The Arabic text has been transcribed from the original with its vowel marks, and the transliteration in Latin letters and the English meaning are given separately. No virtue or number that does not appear in the source is added to this page. How do we prepare our content?

Published: 21 August 2026 · Last updated: 9 October 2026